ORPHAN: FIRST KILL REVIEW!!!

Initial release date: August 19, 2022

Studios: Paramount Picture/Paramount Players/Entertainment One/Dark Castle Entertainment

Tagline: There's always been something wrong with Esther.

Plot: Esther's terrifying saga continues in this thrilling prequel to the original and shocking hit Orphan. After orchestrating a brilliant escape from an Estonian psychiatric facility, Leena/Esther travels to America by impersonating the missing daughter of a wealthy family. Yet, an unexpected twist arises that pits her against a mother who will protect her family from the murderous "child" at any cost.

Cast

Isabelle Fuhrman - Esther/Leena

Julie Stiles - Tricia Albright

Rossif Sutherland - Allen Albright

Hiro Kanagawa - Detective Donnan

Matthew Finlan - Gunner Albright

David Lawrence Brown - Dr. Novotny

Lauren Cochrone - Officer Leahy

Gwendolyn Collins - Anna

Kristin Sawatzky - Federica

Writer: David Coogeshall (Scream: The TV Series; The Haunting in Connecticut 2: Ghosts of Georgia)

Director: William Brent Bell (Brahms: The Boy II; The Boy II; The Devil Inside)

Rated R for bloody violence, language and brief sexual content (99 minutes)

The other night I took a look at the 2009 thriller Orphan, which has some really good thrills and a great twist (even though I found out about the twist before finally watching this movie). Anyway, and the prequel, Orphan: First kill, has been on my radar for awhile. So, instead of waiting until I work on a recent release catch up slate, which I'm going to be putting together some time down the road, I figured what the hell, let's check it out now! Fair warning - slight spoilers from the first movie if you haven't seen it yet!!

Just like the 2009 movie, First Kill has plenty of good thrills and amazing surprises. The first part of the movie introduces us to the Leena character, whom we met in the first movie. It's interesting to see this character having a little backstory and show how she eventually became "Esther." The escape scene in the beginning moments is really intense and is a great way to open the prequel.

I really think that this movie's twist rivals the 2009 twist and it actually makes this prequel more intriguing and intense. Usually I don't really like horror prequels that much but Orphan: First Kill I really enjoyed. The story that they came up with works really well with the first movie. Yeah, there are a couple little parts that kinda don't make a whole lot of sense, but any horror movie is like that. I liked how they still made the actress look younger without using any CGI de-aging, which can sometimes look really horrible if they don't use it right. I mean, I'm sure it was a touch task since the actress is obviously way older yet they still made it kinda work.

Orphan: First Kill did receive mixed reviews like the previous movie, but it was slightly more well-received. Critics praised the film's twists, practical effects (in regard to de-aging Furhman without CGI) and her performance, but criticized the story and inconsistencies (almost like the last movie).

Here are some fun tidbits for Orphan: First Kill!

• Filmed from November through December 2020. Fuhrman was 23, which makes her closer to the age of Leena (the true identity of Esther) than when she appeared in the first movie, where she had turned 11 during filming.

• Some of the cast who were of the same height as Fuhrman while in frame had to wear tall platform shoes while standing next to her to make her appear shorter, acting as forced perspective.

• One of this movie's goals as a prequel was to cover up a much criticized plot hole in the first movie, which was how exactly did Esther get from Estonia to an American orphanage without having been dropped off by anybody.

• According to director William Brent Bell, they didn't use a lot of digital effects to do this, instead using make up, forced perspective and a body double for certain shots.

• In February 2020, a prequel to Orphan with the working title of Esther, was announced as being in development. In November 2020, the movie's official title was announced as Orphan: First Kill.

• In September 2021, it was announced that Paramount Pictures had acquired US distribution rights through the Paramount Players label, unlike the previous movie, which was distributed by Warner Brothers.

• Orphan: First Kill was released simultaneously through limited theatrical release, VOD and on Paramount Plus, on August 19, 2022. It grossed $5.4 million domestically, and $38.6 million in other territories, for a worldwide total of $44 million.